[20021205]RS21300_克什米尔选举.pdf

1 This is a final update and revision of a report originally authored by Amit Gupta, Consultant inSouth Asian Affairs.Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21300Updated December 5, 2002Elections in Kashmirname redactedAnalyst in Asian AffairsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummaryThe United States welcomed the successful October conclusion of 2002 electionsin the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, where nearly half of the electorate castballots. The elections resulted in the ousting of the long-dominant National Conferenceparty, allies of the national coalition-leading Bharatiya Janata Party, thus bolstering thecredibility of the process and dampening criticism from some quarters that the electionswere flawed or “farcical.” The opposition Indian National Congress and the regionalPeoples Democratic Party (PDP) won a combined 36 seats in the state assembly, andCongress leader Sonia Gandhi agreed to a first-ever power-sharing coalition. PDPleader Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has assumed the office of Chief Minister vowing tobring a “healing touch” to state politics. His “common minimum program” includ